Jar lifter and carrier



April'zl, 1936. c; w TANLEY 2,038,139

. JAR LIFTER AND CARRIER Filed June 2'7, 1935 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 PATENT ,OF-FI CE Application June 27,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for lifting jars, such as jars used in canning or preserving and the general object of the invention is to provide a very simple device for this purpose which may be used by housewives for the purpose of lifting jars from hot water and placing them on a table, or shelf, without the necessity of touching either the water or the jars with the hand.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, which is very simple, can be cheaply made, which will firmly grip the jar and which may be readily clamped in place around the neck of the jar.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:---

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a jar lifter constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lifter as it is placed in an expanded condition around the neck of the jar and,

Figure 3 is a like view to Figure 2 but showing the carrier contacted upon said neck.

It will be seen from the drawing that my improved lifter and carrier may be made of wire. It consists of three elements namely, handle I0, and the two jaws II and I2. The handle I0 is formed of a single length of wire bent into a U-shape to provide a bight portion I3 and two legs.

The lower ends of the legs are formed. with horizontally disposed loops I4 which are approximately elliptical in plan view, the loops being relatively narrow but elongated. Both of the jaws II and I2 are formed of a single length of wire, the wire being bent to form the outwardly curved jaws I I and I2, and the two legs being extended upwardly and passed through the loops I4.

Starting from the point I5, the wire is extended downwardly, as at I6, to form one leg of the jaw I2 and then is extended in a horizontal plane in a curve, as at H, toform the jaw, then is extended upwardly, as at I8, then transversely across to form a bight portion I9, then through an eye formed at I5, then downwardly, as at 20, to form the leg of the jaw II, then outwardly in a curve to form the jaw proper, and then upwardly, as at 2I. The upper end of this portion 2| is twisted around the bight, as at 22.

The legs I6, I8, 20 and 2| extend upwardly through the loops I4 and the legs 20 and 2| are downwardly divergent relative to the legs I6 and I8. The wire is resilient and, therefore, these legs 20 and 2I tend to spring away from 1935,. Serial No. 28,715

the legs I6 and I 8. Preferably, the legs I6 and 20 and I8 and 2| are connected to each other by cross wires 23, the ends of the cross Wires being twisted around the legs I6 and 28 and I8 and 2I respectively. These hold the upper portion of the legs in rigid relation but permit the lower portions of the legs to move toward or from each other.

It will be obvious now when the handle I8 is drawn upwardly, as shown in Figure 2, that the jaws may spring outwardly away from each other so as to permit the jaws to be inserted over the neck of a jaw A and that then if the handle I0 be moved downwardly relative to the jaws, that the loops I4 will force the legs I6 and 29 and I8 and 2| towards each other causing the jaws to clamp upon the neck of the jar A, as shown in Figure 3. This operation may be performed by gripping the loops or bights I9 and I3 between the thumb and fingers and pressing downwardly on the handle ID by means of the thumb which will cause the device to grip the neck of the jar. To release the jar, it is only necessary to hold the jaws from upward movement and pull upwardly on the handle I0 whereupon the jaws will spring outwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 and the handle may be readily removed.

It will be seen that I have provided a jar lifter or carrier which is particularly convenient for the purpose of lifting jars out of hot water or inserting the jars into hot water or other liquids. When the device is closed upon a jar, the jar can be readily carried to any desired place and then released. The device can be easily operated both in releasing or engaging. closed in the position shown in Figure 3, the two bights or loops I9 and I3 are disposed close together so that they make a convenient handle for carrying. By reason of the fact that this device is made of only two lengths of wire, not 40 counting the cross bars 23, it can be very cheaply manufactured, without the necessity of soldering or otherwise connecting small pieces to each other.

While I have shown the ends of the wire forming the jaws as being engaged with each other by 45 means of the twists I5 and 22, they may, of course, be soldered or otherwise connected to these points.

Also while I have shown the loops I4 and concomitant parts made of wire, it is to be understood that they may also be stamped out of flat metal.

What I claim is:

l. A jar lifter and carrier comprising a handle formed of a U-shaped piece of wire, the lower ends of the legs thereof being formed each with Lil When the device is horizontally disposed loop, the loops being at right angles to the plane of the handle, and jaws formed of a single piece of wire, the wire being extended downwardly through one of said loops to form a shank, then curved in a horizontal plane to form a jar neck gripping portion, then upwardly extended through the other of said loops to form a shank, then transversely extended across the handle, then downwardly extending through the first named loop of the handle, then curved outwardly in a horizontal plane, then upwardly extended through the other loop of the handle and engaged with the transversely extending portion of the jaw-forming wire above the loop, said wire being of resilient material whereby the two jaw portions are urged away from each other.

2. A jar lifter and carrier comprising a handle formed of a U-shaped piece of wire, the lower ends of the legs thereof being formed with horizontally disposed loops, the loops being at right angles to the plane of the handle, and jaws formed of a single piece of wire, the wire being extended downwardly through one of said loops to form a shank, then curved in a horizontal plane to form a jar neck gripping portion, then upwardly extended through the other of said loops to form a shank, then transversely extended across the handle, then downwardly extended through the first named loop of the handle, then curved outwardly in a horizontal plane, then upwardly extended through the other loop of the handle and engaged with the transversely extending portion of the wire above the loop, said jaw-forming wire being of resilient material whereby the two jaw portions are urged away from each other, and transverse wires attached to the legs of said jaws above the loops of the handle.

CLAUDE W. STANLEY. 

